Spokesman Report
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif met senior Huawei officials in China to discuss expanding cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), digital infrastructure and smart public services. She invited Huawei to invest in the Nawaz Sharif IT City and emphasized that AI development was a key priority for Punjab.
The two sides agreed to train 1,000 young people from Punjab as Huawei master trainers, while 300 women trainers will receive specialized AI training. Discussions also covered establishing an Artificial Intelligence Delivery Unit and six data centres, including a sovereign facility, at Nawaz Sharif IT City. A focal person will be appointed to strengthen coordination between Huawei and the Pakistani government.
The meeting reviewed cooperation in smart cities, command centres, healthcare, education, agriculture and manufacturing, alongside a broader roadmap covering cloud technology, digital infrastructure, talent development and smart public services.
Special Assistant Ali Dar said Punjab was the first province to establish an AI office and was already using AI in healthcare, agriculture, traffic management, infrastructure and governance. He said AI had also been used in heart transplantation and that AI education was being introduced as a compulsory subject in government institutions.
With 65 per cent of Punjab’s population comprising youth, Ali Dar highlighted the province’s potential for technology-driven employment and growth. He said Punjab aimed to develop an AI-integrated system by 2029 and welcomed Chinese technical assistance.
Huawei assured the Punjab government of continued cooperation to advance digital transformation and sustainable development.
